Note: The following agenda is from the 2010 session. The agenda for 2011 is being compiled. To be on the mailing list for this program, click here.

Day One

Registration and continental breakfast open at 7:30 a.m.

8:30 a.m.

The Regulatory Initiatives Surrounding Rate Cases today

Craig Glazer, Vice President, Federal Government Policy, PJM

Robert L. Schain, President, Regulatory Research Associates

A look at the contemporary rate-making process and where state and federal initiatives come to bear, including emissions, renewable standards and energy efficiency programs.

10:00 a.m.

Refreshment Break

10:30 a.m.

The Impact of Ratings Agency Methodologies

Richard Cortright, Managing Director, Standard & Poor's

How credit agencies evaluate a utility's level of credit risk, factoring in increased capex forecasts associated with renewable energy, transmission projects and infrastructure replacement. Discussion includes the concept of regulatory risk associated with authorized returns, decoupling and expense recovery riders.

11:15 a. m.

Trends in Risk and Financial Applications

Lisa Crutchfield, EVP, Regulation and Pricing, National Grid

Robert W. Gee, President, The Gee Strategies Group

Peter Kind, Senior Managing Director, Macquarie Capital (USA)

Steven A. Mitnick (moderator), Former Chief Energy Advisor to the Governor of New York

State regulatory commissions are responding to more frequent filings with greater scrutiny and oftentimes disappointing results for utilities. This session will focus on the new dynamics of return, expense tracker and rate base decisions, as well as looking at kinds of rate proposals, which approaches have been effective and which have not.

12:30 p.m.

Luncheon and Luncheon Address

Christopher Mele, Legislative Director - Energy, NARUC

1:30 p.m.

Settlement Strategies

Janine L. Migden-Ostrander, Consumers' Counsel, Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

James B. Wagner, Manager of Rates, Washington Gas and Light

Robert L. Schain (moderator), President, Regulatory Research Associates

Almost half of the rate cases thus far in 2010 were decided following the signing of settlements by the parties. When is a settlement strategy right for a utility? How should a case be structured to streamline approval? What are the pros and cons to a company's bottom line? What are the benefits of multi-year settlements?

3:00 p.m.

Refreshment Break

3:30 p.m.

Achieving Rate Base Approval for Large Capital Projects

Tom Aridas, Director, Gas Regulatory Policy, Integrys Energy Group

Maureen F. Harris, Commissioner, NY State Public Service Commission

Tamara Linde, Vice President, Regulatory, PSEG

Steven A. Mitnick (moderator), Former Chief Energy Advisor to the Governor of New York

Winning timely rate base approval for large capital projects is always challenging. This session will focus on the lessons learned from case studies of utilities that had success and mixed success with recent major rate case proposals.

5:00 p.m.

Cocktail Reception